CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team split Saturday, April 5 in their home opening series against Winona State University at the Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field. The Golden Eagles fell 4-1 in extra innings to the Warriors in the first tilt, but rebounded for a 10-5 win in the second tilt.
Minnesota Crookston sits at 12-16 (9-9 NSIC) after Saturday's split. Winona State is 15-12 (10-8 NSIC) after the split. The Golden Eagles are 5-2 in their last seven games with the Warriors.
Game One
Winona State edged the Golden Eagles with three runs in the top of the ninth, in what was originally slated to be a seven-inning affair. The Warriors won 4-1.
Josh Dykhoff (Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.), who has been outstanding on the bump this season, posted a quality start. He went eight innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Dykhoff struck out four, and walked just one. He has 45 strikeouts, and just four walks in 2025. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) suffered the loss in relief. He allowed three runs on two hits in one frame.
The Golden Eagles were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving 11 runners on base. In contrast, the Warriors left just four runners on the bags. Minnesota Crookston notched just four hits in game one. Aaron Wensloff (So., IF/OF, Roseau, Minn.) went 1-of-3. Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) went 1-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Brock Larsen (R-Jr., C/1B, Blaine, Minn.) was 1-of-3, as was Kobe Senn (Sr., IF, Fargo, N.D.).
The win for Winona State went to Mason Beltrand in relief. He tossed 2.2 innings, allowing no runs. George Henkel earned the save for the Warriors.
Winona State broke the 0-0 tie in the third frame when Dylan Harer tagged a one-run home run to make it 1-0.
Minnesota Crookston left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, keeping the tally at 1-0 in favor of the Warriors.
The Golden Eagles knotted the game 1-1 with a solo shot for Bushbaum in the bottom of the fourth.
Minnesota Crookston stranded two more runners in the bottom of the fifth after Aaron Wensloff singled, and Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) walked.
In extra innings, Winona State broke through in the top of the ninth. A Josh Gullickson single to left field plated Alex Berreth to make it 2-1. Ben Hefel hit a two-run shot over the fence, to extend the advantage to 4-1.
Minnesota Crookston was unable to answer in the bottom of the ninth, falling 4-1.
Game Two
The Golden Eagles stepped on the gas early 10 runs in the first four frames, defeating the Warriors 10-5.
Minnesota Crookston was propelled by their top-three hitters, who went 7-of-12. They were ignited by Larsen went 3-of-4, with three runs scored. Josh Dykhoff was 3-of-4, with an RBI, and two runs scored. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) finished 1-of-4, with a run scored. Danny Wensloff (R-Sr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) went 1-of-2, with two RBIs, and two run scored.
Isaac Wensloff (Jr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) got the win on the mound. He threw five innings, allowing one run on eight hits. He struck out one. Max Weber (R-Sr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) tossed an inning of relief, striking out two. Jaxson Bennett (R-So., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) went 0.1 innings, allowing four runs. Carsen Barta (So., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) tossed 0.2 innings, to get Minnesota Crookston out of the game.
Easton Arendt was tagged with the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits in two frames. Arendt struck out three, and walked one.
Minnesota Crookston scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Josh Dykhoff singled in Debilzen to make it 1-0. Bushbaum reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Danny Wensloff. Larsen scored on a throwing error to extend the advantage to 3-0.
The Golden Eagles added five runs in the third. Danny Wensloff walked with the bases loaded, scoring Larsen. Josh Dykhoff came in to score on a wild pitch. Senn crossed the plate on a passed ball. Kyler Miller (Fr., SS, Grand Rapids, Minn.) doubled in Danny Wensloff to push it to 7-0. Kyler Miller scored on a wild pitch to extend the tally to 8-0.
In the fourth frame, Larsen scored on a passed ball to make it 9-0. Danny Wensloff singled in Josh Dykhoff to widen the gap to 10-0.
Winona State got a run back in the fifth with a Garrett Hietpas sacrifice fly to plate Cole Fuecker. The Warriors added four runs in the top of the seventh. Kyle Yu doubled in Jack Funke to cut the deficit to 10-2. Tyler Flis hit an infield single, bringing in Hietpas to cut it to 10-3. Yu scored on a wild pitch to cut it to 10-4. Flis crossed the plate on a Josh Hatano groundout to make it 10-5. Barta pitched the Golden Eagles out of the game, preserving a 10-5 win.
Minnesota Crookston concludes their series with Winona State Sunday, April 6 at 1 and 3 p.m.
